Medal of Honor: Robert Eugene Bush - World War II - May 2, 1945

Name: Robert Eugene Bush
Rank: Hospital Apprentice First Class
Branch: U.S. Naval Reserve
War: World War II
Unit: Medical Corpsman, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: May 2, 1945
Location: Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu Islands

Summary of Action

On 2 May 1945, Hospital Apprentice First Class Robert Eugene Bush distinguished himself during the savage fighting on Okinawa.

Serving as a Navy corpsman attached to a Marine rifle company, Bush repeatedly exposed himself to artillery, mortar, and machine-gun fire to reach wounded Marines scattered across the battlefield.

He moved from man to man under relentless fire, administering aid without hesitation.

As the attack crested a ridge, Bush advanced to deliver blood plasma to a wounded Marine officer lying exposed on the skyline.

At that moment, Japanese forces launched a violent counterattack.

With the enemy charging and his patient helpless beside him, Bush refused to abandon the transfusion.

Holding the plasma bottle high in one hand to keep it flowing, he drew his pistol with the other and fired into the advancing enemy.

When his ammunition was exhausted, he seized a discarded carbine and continued firing at point-blank range.

Despite suffering severe wounds and the loss of one eye, Bush killed six enemy soldiers and helped repel the assault.

Only after the attack was broken did he turn his full attention back to his patient.

Ignoring his own critical injuries, he completed the plasma transfusion and refused treatment until the wounded officer had been evacuated.

After attempting to walk to the aid station, he finally collapsed.

His extraordinary courage, unwavering devotion to the wounded, and complete disregard for his own life reflected the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

BUSH, ROBERT EUGENE

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Medical Corpsman with a rifle company, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Jima, Ryukyu Islands, 2 May 1945. Fearlessly braving the fury of artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire from strongly entrenched hostile positions, Bush constantly and unhesitatingly moved from 1 casualty to another to attend the wounded falling under the enemy’s murderous barrages. As the attack passed over a ridge top, Bush was advancing to administer blood plasma to a marine officer lying wounded on the skyline when the Japanese launched a savage counterattack. In this perilously exposed position, he resolutely maintained the flow of life-giving plasma. With the bottle held high in 1 hand, Bush drew his pistol with the other and fired into the enemy’s ranks until his ammunition was expended. Quickly seizing a discarded carbine, he trained his fire on the Japanese charging pointblank over the hill, accounting for 6 of the enemy despite his own serious wounds and the loss of 1 eye suffered during his desperate battle in defense of the helpless man. With the hostile force finally routed, he calmly disregarded his own critical condition to complete his mission, valiantly refusing medical treatment for himself until his officer patient had been evacuated, and collapsing only after attempting to walk to the battle aid station. His daring initiative, great personal valor, and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in service of others reflect great credit upon Bush and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.